Free swimming sessions are being offered to all residents aged 60 and over at pools in the area run by Active Life.

They will be available from April 1 at all three pools - Herons in Herne Bay, Whitstable and Kingsmead leisure centre in Canterbury.

As part of a wider national campaign to promote general fitness, Active Life has successfully bid for money from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to pay for the two-year scheme.

Dominic Comins, from Active Life, said: “We expect attendances will increase at all our swimming pools as a result of this. To avoid any potential overcrowding we are displaying the times in the pool which are the busiest and quietest.”

To qualify for a free swim you will need to take along photographic ID stating your date of birth each time you visit.

For more details contact your local pool: Whitstable, 01227 772442, Maria Shaw; Herons, 01227 742102, Mike Marsh; and Kingsmead, 01227 769818, Jonathan Wake.